Garment supporting device



March 29, 1949. 1. FiDLER 2,465,859

Filed May 21, 1945 March29, 1949. 1, FIDLER v 2,465,859

GARMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE I Filed May 21, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HINNINIIIllllllllllllllhm| March 29,1949.

l. FIDLE R GARMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 21, 1945 Patented Mar. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES...

PATENT OFFICE 2,465,859 GARMENT SUP gORTING DEVICE Isadore Fidler; Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 21, 1945, Serial No. 594,914

This invention relates to garment supporting devices and refers more particularly to garment hangers of the clamping type having opposite jaws which engage with opposite sides of a garment and provide for holding the samesuspended" without danger of wrinkling.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved garment hanging device wherein the jaws of the hanger are provided by spring arms which may be readily releasably clampedio and which is provided with tabs for engagementdri under the cuffs to positively support the trousers against slippage from the hanger.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel garment supporting device including jaws adapted to releasably clampQO about a garment, and a bracket to which the jaws attach and which supports the jaws in a substantially horizontal position permittingthe'garment to be suspended therefrom.

A further object of this invention resides in 26- the provision of a hanger of the clamp type which comprises opposite jaws yieldingly urged to. a spread apart position and novel latch means for readily releasably holding the jaws in a clamp ing position with the garment. securely held therebetween.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as 5 hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed. invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of the physical embodiments of the invention constructed in accordance with the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the garment supporting device of this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of. one of the hangers per se of the device showing the same in its open or inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a perspecive view illustrating the manner in which trousers are positively supported from the hanger of this invention;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illus- 10 Claims. (Cl. 211-89) 2 trating a slightly modified form of garment supporting device;

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the hanger per se of the Figure 4 device showing the same in open and closed conditions respectively;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a modified type of hanger suitable for use with the bracket of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a. perspective view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating a further modified garment supporting device and having one of the hangers disengaged from the bracket thereof;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a wall bracket capable of use with the hanger shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the bracket of Figure 9 and a coupling element used therewith for connection of the hanger to the bracket.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates generally the garment supporting device of this invention which comprises a hanger 6 and a wall bracket 1 with which the hanger connects to be supported therefrom in a substantially horizontal position.

The bracket '1 is adapted to be attached to. a wall by fastening means (not shown) passing through suitable holes 8 in the bracket so as to dispose spaced upper and lower flanges 9 on the bracket .in substantially horizontal planes. Mounted on the bracket are a plurality of hinges Ill each of which comprises a substantially -U-shaped member having opposite side legs H embracing the flanges of the bracket. Hinge pins l2 passing through the overlapping portions of the flanges and hinge legs mount the hinge elements from the bracket for swinging motion on a substantially vertical axis.

Each of the hinges has flanges l3 overlying its back l4 and bent inwardly from the opposite side edges of the hinge to form a vertical slideway thereon in which. the inner. end l5 of the hanger is detachably received.

The hanger 6 ofv this invention is preferably is readily insertabl between the bars in the open position of the hanger illustrated in Figure 2 from which position the opposite side bars are movable toward and into iuxta-position with a respect to each other to clamp about the exterior of the garment as illustrated in Figure 3. Closing of the jaws of the hanger is, of course, effected against the resiliency of the bars and the action of the dilatory spring bow thereon.

The hanger is maintained in its operative position with its jaws closed by connection of its inner end IE to the bracket '1. For this purpose the inner ends of the bars remote from the spring bow are bent outwardly in opposite directions to provide ears l8 which give the inner end of the hanger a substantially T-shaped conflgura-- tion (viewed in plan) when the hanger is closed for cooperation with the slideway formed on the back of the hinge element.

With th hanger connected to the bracket 1 as shown, the ears l8 engage under the opposite flanges 43 on the back of the hinge, and the inherent resiliency of the bars l6 augmented by the expansive force of the spring bow I1 yieldingly urges the inner ends of the bars toward a spread apart position tending to maintain the connection operative.

It will be understood, however, that engagement of the ears l8 within the slideway requires the inner ends of the bars adjacent the ears to be pressed closely together for entrance into either the open top or bottom of the slideway and that the closed sides of the slideway are preferably spaced far enough apart to permit a slight degree of spreading of the bars in consequence to the inherent resiliency of the bars and the expansive force of the spring bow to facilitate disengagement of the hanger from the bracket.

Hence, it will be seen that the hanger 6 is readily detachably secured to the bracket 1 through the medium of its connection with the hinge element l and supported therefrom in a substantially horizontal position with the spring bow remote from the bracket. Any weight imposed upon the hanger such as by the suspension of a garment thereon causes slight tilting of the ears I 8 in their slideway in a manner tending to render the connection between the hanger and the hinge element In more efiective and secure against accidental detachment.

The bracket 7 may be of any desired length to accommodate a plurality of hinge elements In for supporting a like number of hangers 6 and it will be noted that the hangers through their connection with the hinge elements are mounted for swinging motion in a substantially horizontal plane to enable inspection of garments supported thereby.

While the hanger thus far described is suitable for hanging most articles of wearing apparel with the exception of coats, dresses and the like, it is especially well suited for the suspension of trousers or slacks, cuff end uppermost, and for this purpose the opposite side bars I6 are provided with tabs 20 extending upwardly therefrom substantially in the fiat plane of the bars for engagement under the cuffs of trousers or slacks clamped by the hanger as illustrated in Figur 3. Preferably there are two tabs on each bar spaced along the length thereof with the tabs on the bars opposite one another so as to likewise exert a clamping pressure on the legs of the trousers suspended from the hanger.

If desired, the hinge element which connects the hanger to the wall bracket may also have a detachable connection with the bracket so that the hinge element may act as a latch for holding the opposite side bars of the hanger in their clamping position prior to connection of the hanger with the bracket. Such a hinge element is shown at 22 in Figures 9 and 10.

The opposite legs 23 of the hinge element 22 have trunnions 24 and 25 projecting from the top and bottom sides of the hinge respectively, which are received in vertically aligned apertures 26 and 21 provided in rearwardly and inwardly directed flange portions 28 and 29 of the bracket respectively. The legs 23 of the hinge element are received flatwise between the flange portions 28 and 29 and are spaced apart a distance such as to :permit the hinge element a degree of vertical motion relative to the apertured flanges for the purpose of aligning a reduced end 30 on the lower trunnion 25 with a slot 3| in the flange portion 29 leading from the aperture 21 therein to the free edge of the lower flange 9.

When the hinge element 22 is lifted upwardly in this manner to align the reduced portion 30 with the slot 3 I, the hinge is obviously detachable u from the bracket. Its assembly is readily eifected in a similar manner after first engaging the top trunnion 24 within the aperture 26.

It will be understood, of course, that the top trunnion 24 has sufiicient axial length as to re- 30 main engaged in its aperture 26 during engagement of the trunnion 25 within its aperture 21 to carry the reduced portion 30 beneath the plane of the entrance slot 3| in the lower flange of the bracket. The details of the hanger for the bracket thus described are the same as for that disclosed in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

In lieu of the hinge elements heretofore provided, it is possible to directly detachably connect the hanger with the bracket, and such a construction is illustrated in Figure 8.

The bracket 32 in this instance remains substantially the same as that illustrated in Figure 9, but it is to be noted that the hanger has a latch 33 secured to one of its side bars remote from the spring bow I1. The latch 33 is substantially U-shaped and has one leg riveted or welded to the exterior of one of the bars with the legs of the latch embracing both bars in the closed clamping position of the hanger.

In order to latch or release the bars, it is merely necessary to move one of the bars substantially in the fiat plane thereof relative to the other bar while the hanger is held closed manually to engage or disengage the same under the latch 33.

The inner end of the hanger is also provided with a pin 35 secured against the flat side of one of the bars and lying on an axis crosswise to the length of the bars. The top and bottom portions of the pin provide 'trunnions, :as hereinbefore described, for engagement within the apertures provided in the flanges of the bracket. The lower portion of the pin is also reduced in diameter as at 36 to enable assembly and disassembly of the hanger from the bracket as previously described in connection with the Figures 9 and 10 embodiment.

The hanger l5 shown in Figure 8 may also be provided with ofiset portions 31 lying in the flat plane of the bars but projecting thereabove to serve the same purpose as the hereinbefore described tabs 20 in that they may be engaged under the cuffs of trousers or slacks carried by the hanger, cufi uppermost, to positively hold the same supported by the hanger. The formations of the ofis'ets 31 by bending of the bars secures aoassc :the feature of elimination of welding, riveting or the like, as is necessary for the securement of the tabs 20 in the Figures 1 to 3 embodiments of the invention. It will also be understood that this type of hanger, while shown constructed of flat stock, may be made of round stock or other stock of any suitable cross section.

Ihe hanger 40 illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 is somewhat similar to that illustrated in Fi ure 8, but lacks the ofisets '31 or the tabs 20 which engage under the cuffs of the trousers or slacks. This hanger is also provided with a latch 33 and a pin 35' for connecting the hanger with a wall bracket 4|. The bracket in this instance, however, merely comprises a channel shaped structure securable to an upright supporting wall and having spaced parallel flanges l2 struck therefrom so as to be integral with the bracket and which are adapted to lie in horizontal planes when the bracket is attached. to its supporting wall.

The flanges 42 are provided with apertures 43 aligning on a vertical axis to receive the pin 35. It "is :to be noted, however, that the pin 35 has sufilcient length beneath the hanger 40 so as to be engaged in both apertures by passage thereof downwardly first through the aperture of the uppermost flange and then through the aperture in the lowermost flange so that the underside of the hanger rests on top ofpthe uppermost flange :as clearly shown in Figure 4. By reason of this construction, the hanger is suitably supported from the bracket for swinging motion in a substantially horizontal plane.

The hanger of Figure 7 is designed for use with the bracket 4| of Figure 4 but is also provided with offsets integral therewith like those of the hanger 15 of Figure 8 to engage under the cuffs of trousers suspended from the hanger. Atten'tion is again directed to thefact that while the hanger of Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, is shown constructed of flat stock, material having other cross sectional shapes may also be employed to equal advantage.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the garment supporting device of this invention greatly improves suspension of wearing apparel in a manner precluding wrinkling thereof, and that the device further embodies compactness as one of its features to enable ma mum capacity in a minimum of space.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A trouser hanger of the character described comprising: opposite jaws; means connecting said jaws together for movement from an operative closed position to an inoperative open position in which the cuff end of trouser legs are readily insertable into the jaws or released therefrom; and opposite tabs on said jaws fixed with relation thereto and so located thereon as to be engageable with the outer sides of trouser legs between the jaws inwardly of their creased edges, said tabs being adapted to engage under the cuffs of such trousers in position between the jaws in the operative closed position thereof for preventing accidental disengagement of the trousers from the hanger.

2. A hanger for supporting trousers by the legs thereof with the cull end uppermost, comprising: opposite jaws connected together for motion from an operative side by side condition to an inoperative spread apart condition adapted to receive the legs of trousers therebetween; means for releasably holding said jaws in their operative condition; and opposite cufi engaging elements on each of said jaws adapted for insertion under the cuffs on trousers having their leg portions between the jaws, inwardly of the creased edges of the cuffs, so that the trousers are positively suspended from said cuff engaging elements in the operative condition of the jaws.

3. A hanger for supporting trousers by the legs thereof with the cuif end uppermost, comprising: opposite jaws connected together for motion from an operative side by side condition to an inoperative spread apart condition and adapted to receive the legs of trousers therebetween; means for releasably holding said jaws in their operative condition; cuff engaging elements on each of said jaws intermediate their length and adapted to be inserted under the cuffs on the legs of trousers between the jaws, inwardly of the creased edges of the cuffs, to clamp the trousers therebetween in the operative condition of the jaws so that the trousers are clamped between and positively suspended from said cufi engaging elements; and means at one end of at least one of said jaws providing for detachably mounting the hanger on a stationary support with the jaws of the hanger in a, substantially horizontal position.

4. A trouser hanger of the character described, comprising: a pair of opposite jaws; a dilatory spring bow joining said jaws at one end thereof and yieldingly biasing the jaws to a spread apart position with the bars converging toward the bow in which spread apart condition the jaws are adapted to receive the cuff end portion of the legs of trousers therebetween, said how permitting motion of the jaws to a side by side operative position with respect to the legs of trousers inserted therebetween; a latch carried by one of the jaws at the end thereof remote from the bow for engagement with the opposite jaw in the side by side position of the jaws to releasably maintain the hanger in its operative position; and cuff engaging elements on said jaws adapted to engage under the cuffs of trousers between the jaws intermediate the creased edges of the trousers, for clamping the trousers therebetween in the operative latched condition of the jaws.

5. A trouser hanger of the character described, comprising: a pair of opposite jaws; a dilatory spring bow joining said jaws at one end thereof and yieldingly biasing the jaws to a spread apart position with the bars converging toward the bow to enable insertion of the cuff end portion of the legs of trousers therebetween, said how permitting motion of the jaws to a side by side operative position with respect to the legs of trousers inserted therebetween; a latch carried by one of the jaws at the end thereof remote from the bow for engagement with the opposite jaw in the side by side position of the jaws to releasably maintain the hanger in its operative position; cufi engaging portions on said jaws adapted to engage under the cuffs of trousers between the jaws for clamping the trousers therebetween in the operative latched condition of the jaws; and means on at least one of the jaws remote from said spring bow providing for detachably mounting the hanger on a stationary support with the jaws of the hanger disposed in a substantially horizontal position.

6. A hanger for trousers comprising: opposite jaws of substantially resilient stock joined together at one end thereof and yieldingly biased jaws for releasably latching the jaws together i in juxtaposition so as to define the operative condition of the hanger; and means on the jaws projecting upwardly therefrom to one side of the jaws toward the cuffs of trousers between the jaws and adapted to engage under the cuffs of the trousers, inwardly of their creased edges, said projecting means cooperating to clamp the legs of trousers therebetween so as to hold the trousers positively suspended from the hanger.

7. A trouser hanger of the character described, comprising: a pair of opposite jaws; a dilatory spring bow joining said jaws at one end thereof and yieldingly biasing the jaws to a spread apart position with the bars diverging toward their free ends; latch means for connecting the free ends of the jaws together to thereby place the same in an operative position with respect to a garment inserted therebetween, the operativeness of said connection depending upon the tendency of the jaws to spread apart in response to the bias imposed thereon by the spring bow, said latch means providing for attachment of the hanger to a support with the hanger in a substantially horizontal position; and portions on each of said jaws extending upwardly from the jaws and adapted to be inserted under the cuffs of trousers between the jaws and cooperating to clamp the trousers therebetween in the operative condition of the jaws, said portions preventing accidental displacementof the trousers from between the jaws of the hanger.

8. A trouser hanger of the character described, comprising: a clamp formed from a single length of substantialy resilient stock bent to provide opposite divergent jaws joined by a dilatory spring bow at their convergent ends and adapted to receive the legs of a pair of trousers therebetween cuff end uppermost; means for holding the free ends of the jaws together to thereby place the same in an operative side by side condition; and integral cufi engaging portions on each jaw bent laterally therefrom adapted for insertion under the cuffs of trousers between the jaws and through which clamping pressure is exerted on the trousers to positively hold the trousers against displacement from between said jaws.

9. A hanger for holding trousers in suspension, cuff end of the legs uppermost, comprising: opposite jaws of substantially resilient stock joined together at one end thereof and having "their 'oppo'sitefree ends yieldingly biased to a divergent position enabling the legs of trousers to be inserted therebetween, cuff end uppermost; latch means for connecting the free ends of the jaws together to thereby hold the same in their operative garment supporting position, the operativeness of said connection depending upon the tendency of the jaws to spread apart in response to yielding divergent bias; and means on the jaws projecting upwardly therefrom to one side of the jaws and adapted to be inserted under the cuffs of the trousers inwardly of their creased edges, said projecting means cooperating to clamp the legs of trousers therebetween so as to hold the trousers positively suspended from the hanger.

10. A trouser hanger of the character described, comprising: a clamp formed from a single length of substantially resilient stock bent to provide opposite divergent jaws joined by a dilatory spring bow at their convergent ends and adapted to receive the legs of a pair of trousers therebetween, cuff end uppermost; means for holding the free ends of the jaws together to thereby place the same in an operative side by side condition; and cufi engaging elements on each of said jaws extending substantially vertically upwardly from the jaws, said cuff engaging elements being operative to exert clamping pressure on trousers between the jaws in the operative condition thereof, and being adapted for insertion under the cuffs of such trousers inwardly of their creased edges to positively hold the trousers against displacement from between said jaws.

ISADORE FIDLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 546,492 Millert Sept. 17, 1895 654,340 Bradway July 24, 1900 724,427 Bonsall Apr. 7, 1903 837,852 Laraway Dec. 4, 1906 1,097,755 Goldsmith May 26, 1914 1,268,371 McDonald June 4, 1918 1,936,813 West at a]. Nov. 28, 1933 2,199,717 Thoms May 7, 1940 2,205,817 Kramb June 25, 1940 2,213,537 Stevens Sept. 3, 1940 2,230,300 Kirkegaard Feb. 4, 1941 

